An all-new, two-model Ford C-MAX range that consists of the five-seat C-MAX and the longer, seven-seat Grand C-MAX with sliding rear-doors made its world premiere at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show where FoMoCo also confirmed that the Grand C-MAX will indeed be launched in North America in late 2011. Set to go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2010, the C-MAX minivan is the first model of the next generation Focus family that will include hatchback, sedan and coupe-convertible variants and are scheduled for production in the next few years.The C-MAX range, which will compete head on with the Renault Scenic / Grand Scenic and Citroen C4 Picasso / C4 Grand Picasso (see a naming pattern here...) in Europe, will be the first Ford to get the firm's all-new 1.6-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engines with direct injection, turbocharging and twin independent variable valve timing.
The 1.6-liter unit will be offered with outputs ranging between 150 and 180 horsepower and will be joined later on by a smaller displacement engine with up to 130HP as well as a 2.0-liter turbo engine producing 200HP and above.
Whereas the five-seat C-MAX retains the seating arrangement from the current model with three individual 40/20/40 folding seats, and the option of a Comfort system that allows the outer seats to slide diagonally backwards and inwards to create a 2+2 layout, the longer Grand C-MAX features three rows of seats in a 2+3+2 layout that can be switched to a 2+2+2 layout.
Naturally for an MPV, the second- and third-row seats can be folded down to create a flat load floor, irrespective of how many seats remain in use.
Furthermore, the C-MAX's conventional back doors have been replaced on the Grand C-MAX with sliding rear doors on both sides of the car.
